It is widely believed that certain animals – such as snakes – are able to predict natural events such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Theories suggest that animals may be able to sense the earth’s vibrations, or to detect atmospheric changes.

And for centuries it has been believed that cows lying down point to the arrival of rain.

American folklore has it that groundhogs can be even more adept at forecasting the weather.

The weather at the moment a groundhog leaves its burrow on Feb 2 is held to determine how soon the winter will end.

More surprisingly, a 2004 study found that some dogs are able to predict when a child will suffer an epileptic seizure. Of the 60 dogs studied, 15% were able to consistently detect imminent seizures.

However some animals have far more bizarre predicative abilities attributed to them.

Oscar the cat made headlines earlier this year by predicting the death of residents in Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Rhode Island.

The five year old feline resident of the nursing home is said to have accurately predicted around 50 deaths, curling up with patients during their final hours.

A number of dogs are also reported to have demonstrated this uncanny divination ability. Scamp, a Schnauzer from The Pines nursing home in Ohio, and Buddy, a golden retriever who visits St. Francis hospice in Honolulu, have paid similar attention to dying patients.

As a rival to Paul, however, few can challenge Louisiana-born Llewellyn setter Jim the Wonder Dog.

In the 1930s, Jim demonstrated the psychic ability to follow instructions, even in foreign languages, shorthand and Morse Code.

A champion hunting dog, he also predicted the winners of seven Kentucky Derbies, the baseball World Series and the sex of unborn babies.

Less successful psychic animals include Armani the monkey, who predicted Hillary Clinton to win the US Presidential election, and Sayco the Argentinian dolphin, who incorrectly challenged Paul’s prediction for the World Cup quarter-final match by rejecting a ball marked in Germany's colours in favour of a blue and white alternative.